hEYDON PARK SPRING PILOT

Heydon Park is a small downtown public secondary school for female students, able to cater to various needs such as those ssociated with learning disabilities, mild Intellectual disabilities, multiple exceptionalities, behavioral students, as well as having full special education programs, offering credit and non credit programs.

Heydon park: spring pilot project 2013

This spring, SCC provided an intensive Social Circus program as a unit for a mixed (credit and non credit) Phys. Ed class for the first time since offering it in 2010. We focused on teamwork and trust building through games and various circus skills. We also offered lunchtime program workshops so that all students had the opportunity to participate. The programs will be continued next school year! Check out our photo gallery below from workshops, and scroll down the page for feedback and reflection from Heydon Park staff and youth from Heydon Park. .....and...stay tuned for a video of their final skill demonstration!

CLOSING CIRCLE REFLECTIONSAFTER HEYDON PARK SOCIAL CIRCUS UNIT...

“I never got to try something like this in any other school program, it was a really good fun experience”“I felt like I couldn’t do nothing from the start, but I tried the flag move (did it) and wanted to try more.”“It was cool how much we can learn and do so fast.”“I learned a lot of difficult things. At first I thought everything was way too hard, but I was shocked that I could, it was easy once I learned how” “I want to do it again and keep practicing.” “I learned I can do anything. I thought I couldn’t do some things because of my weight, but I just had to position myself the right way and then I could do them.”“I first thought this is cool, but difficult. However, I had a REALLY fun time and learned it was easier than it looks My goal is to try to keep working on my balance i got a lot better.““Everyone tried really hard.”“It was a fun and difficult experience in a good way. I thought it was going to be hard, but really enjoyed it. It was easier than I thought.”“The juggling was hard, I didn’t think I’d be good at any of the juggling stuff. I still can’t get it, but still can see I can get there. I am going to keep working on it.”“I didn’t want to try at first because it seemed hard, but than it was fun because I got good at it!”“I always wanted to be in the circus. I thought it would be harder because I’m more heavyset but I tried participating I learned I could do it!”“We got the chance to talk with people and partner up with people we wouldn’t normally talk or interact with the whole year and do things together”“I thought it was hard, than I got it and now I think it’s fun!”“It was just fun! I liked to do EVERYTHING!”

===VARIOUS HEYDON PARK YOUTH PARTICPANTS

"I saw an incredible change among the girls over the period of time. I trust all the girls a great deal now too."“I got out of it that I can TRUST all of you girls!!”

===VARIOUS HEYDON PARK STAFF

A special Thank You to Lorraine DelaCruz for her persistent efforts in making this pilot project happen, to Jenny Gourley for her volunteer Social support, to Diane, Donna Drummond and all of the Heydon Park staff for their support, and of course, all of the AMAZING, BRAVE and TALENTED young ladies at Heydon Park who participated in the program!